Discover the secret for pink or blue hydrangeas, it all depends on you: the color of the flowers really changes, but not by chance. There is a hidden detail that makes all the difference, and changing it is easier than you think.
Among the many wonders that nature offers, the hydrangea occupy a special place. Those spheres of petals, so dense and scenographic, sprout among the vases and gardens like small vegetable fireworks. It is not uncommon to stop to admire them by wondering: because some are rosaother blu? And why sometimes, in the same plant, different shades appear? It is interesting to note that the color of these plants is not a fixed feature, but something that can change with a pinch of attention and some natural makeup.
We tend to think they exist different varietiesa rose and one blue. In reality, the secret is all in the ground. Or rather, in his ph. This value, often neglected, is able to influence the pigmentation of the flowers of the hydrangeas more than you can imagine. And the beautiful thing? You can intervene, even in a simple way, to obtain the favorite shade. It is enough to know a couple of tricks and observe the reactions of the plant over time.
How to get blue or pink hydrangeas: the magic of pH
The hydrangeas are not only beautiful: they are also very sensitive to what surrounds them. When you notice a change in the color of their flowers, it is not just a question of variety. The point is the ground. More precisely, its level of acidity. If the ground is acid (therefore with a pH below 6), the hydrangeas tend to bloom in a deep blue And fresh. If, on the other hand, the ground is basic (with pH above 6), the flowers are tinged with rosa.
It is not about a trick or some mysterious botanist spell. It is all thanks (or guilt) of a simple chemical reaction between the pigments of the petals and the aluminum ions present in the ground. In a more acidic soil, aluminum moves more freely and is absorbed by the plant, giving that unmistakable blue. When instead the environment becomes more alkaline, aluminum “blocks” and pink takes over.
It looks like a rather linear mechanismTrue? Yet, as often happens with nature, there is always some detail that escapes or complicated things a little. Nothing impossible, but it is better to know where the foot (or the hoe) is put.
The first step It is testing the ground. On the market there are simple kits to use that allow you to measure the pH in a few minutes. If it turns out that it is too high and you want to want blue flowers, you can intervene in various ways:
- Adding Coffee funds to the ground, which make it more acidic over time.
- Using aluminum sulfate o sulfur (in moderation).
- Watering with rainwater instead of tap, often more alkaline.
For those who prefer the pink hydrangeascan instead be:
- Mix ash of wood o football nitrate.
- Add crumbled egg shellswhich over time raise the pH.
It must be said, however, that the results are not always immediate. Change can take weeks, sometimes months. But this is exactly what makes everything more fascinating: to observe, experiment and see how nature responds.
Vase hydrangeas: what to do (and what to avoid) to control the color
When hydrangeas grow in vasocontrol over the pH is much simpler. The container creates a micro -food in which it is possible to intervene precisely, without influencing other plants or having to modify large portions of soil. For this reason, those who grow on the balcony often have excellent results in the “coloring” of hydrangeas.
But there are some mistakes that could send each attempt upstream:
- Travaso the plant too latewhen the roots are already suffocated.
- Use universal soil without checking the pH.
- Irrigate with limestone water: the limestone raises the pH and makes it difficult to get blue flowers.
- Forget the specific fertilizersespecially in spring and summer.
Better to act in advance. Already during the winter you can start modifying the soil slowly, so that, upon arrival of flowering, the plant is ready to produce the desired color. In addition, it is always advisable to observe the plant: the color of the flowers can provide precious clues on the state of the ground, even more than a chemical test.
A small botanical experiment to try everything
It is believed that one of the most satisfying things of cultivate hydrangeas is precisely the possibility of playing with the colors. You don’t need to have a botanical garden or an nurseryman experience. Just a little curiosity and some more attention.
Some choose to grow Two different vases With twin hydrangeas, treating the soil differently: one with coffee and aluminum sulphate to obtain blue, the other with ash to encourage pink. The decorative effect is surprising and tells how much chemistry, in its baby, can create beauty.
However, it should not be forgotten that Each plant has its own personality. Some hydrangeas, called Macrophyllaare more sensitive to pH, others less. And the changes may never be perfect or stable. But after all, this is precisely what makes everything more authentic: nature does not follow rigid rules, reacts, adapts, surprises.
Ultimately, choose the color of hydrangeas It is not only an aesthetic question, but an invitation to take care of the ground, that observed, to listen to. And perhaps this is the real secret: rather than deciding the color, letting yourself be involved in the process.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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